DOH Abu Dhabi License for Nurses 2026: Requirements, TAMM Application, Exam, Fees and Timeline

Abu Dhabi's Department of Health (DOH, formerly HAAD) licenses nurses for the emirate's government network, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and the large private groups, and it pays the best nursing packages in the UAE. It is also the most demanding of the three UAE licences, and one detail trips up nurses who have prepared for DHA or MOHAP: the DOH exam is delivered by Pearson VUE, not Prometric. This guide covers the nursing route as it stands in September 2026.

For the general DOH overview across professions see the DOH licence guide; for the emirate comparison read DHA vs MOHAP vs DOH.

Eligibility for a DOH nursing licence

Title	Qualification	Experience
Registered Nurse	BSc Nursing (4 years) from a recognised institution; diploma routes are assessed case by case and usually require additional experience	2 years post-registration clinical experience within the last 5 years
Specialised nurse (ICU, ER, OR, NICU, cardiac, dialysis)	BSc plus post-basic training or documented specialty experience	2 years in the specialty
Practical Nurse / Nurse Assistant	2-year diploma	2 years

DOH is stricter than DHA and MOHAP on the recognition of institutions and on diploma routes, and many Abu Dhabi employers additionally ask for IELTS 6.5 to 7.0 or OET B. Current home-country registration, a Good Standing Certificate within six months and BLS are required. Confirm your title with the free eligibility check before starting.

Step 1: TAMM application

DOH licensing runs through TAMM, Abu Dhabi's government services platform. You create an account, choose the healthcare professional licensing service and complete the application with your passport, photograph, degree and transcripts, council registration, experience certificates with exact dates and HR contacts, Good Standing Certificate, BLS and CV. Account creation is free. A sponsoring facility can open the application on your behalf, which is common for nurses recruited from overseas.

Step 2: Dataflow verification

DOH requires primary source verification through Dataflow. The DOH package is slightly more expensive than DHA's at USD 240 to 340 and takes 5 to 9 weeks. Experience letters are the usual failure point; read the experience certificate format guide first. A completed Dataflow for DHA or MOHAP can be transferred to a DOH package for a reduced fee.

Step 3: DOH review and exam eligibility

With Dataflow complete, DOH reviews the file against the title requirements and confirms exam eligibility. Reclassification to a different title is possible; appeals need new evidence.

Step 4: The DOH nursing exam (Pearson VUE)

• Delivery: Pearson VUE test centres worldwide, booked from your TAMM account (not the Prometric website)
• Format: 100 to 150 single-best-answer MCQs
• Duration: 2 to 3 hours
• Pass mark: 60% (title dependent)
• Fee: USD 220 to 280 (about AED 810 to 1,030)

The blueprint matches the other UAE authorities: adult medical-surgical nursing, fundamentals and safety, pharmacology and calculation, paediatrics, obstetrics, community health, infection control and ethics. Preparation used for DHA or MOHAP transfers directly; only the booking platform differs. The DOH exam for nurses guide covers the syllabus, the nursing practice questions show the question style, and timed mocks are on the practice exams page.

Step 5: Licence issuance and activation

After a pass, DOH issues the licence on payment of the issuance fee (USD 270 to 410). Activation requires a DOH-licensed facility to link you and pay the practice permit. Government and semi-government employers in Abu Dhabi frequently sponsor the whole process for nurses they have recruited; independent applicants with DOH eligibility in hand are attractive because they can start quickly. The UAE talent pool page shows current demand.

DOH nursing licence fees in 2026

Item	USD	Approx. AED
TAMM account	Free	Free
Dataflow PSV report	240 to 340	880 to 1,250
DOH nursing exam (Pearson VUE)	220 to 280	810 to 1,030
Licence issuance	270 to 410	990 to 1,505
Practice permit / facility linking	Employer-paid	Employer-paid
Total out of pocket	730 to 1,030	2,680 to 3,785

The fee calculator adds attestation and converts to your currency.

Timeline

• TAMM application and uploads: 2 to 5 days
• Dataflow: 5 to 9 weeks
• DOH review and eligibility: 1 to 3 weeks
• Book and sit the Pearson VUE exam: 2 to 4 weeks
• Licence issuance: 1 to 2 weeks

10 to 18 weeks overall, the longest of the three UAE authorities.

What Abu Dhabi nurses earn

In 2026, a registered nurse with 3 to 5 years of experience typically earns AED 6,000 to 10,000 per month tax free, with the government network and tertiary private hospitals at the upper end and adding accommodation or a housing allowance, annual flights, medical insurance and end-of-service gratuity. Specialised ICU, OR, cardiac and NICU nurses sit at the top of the range. See the UAE nurse salary guide and the salary calculator.

Who hires DOH-licensed nurses

The government network (Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Tawam, Al Ain Hospital and the ambulatory centres) is the largest employer and runs regular overseas intakes for ICU, ER, OR, NICU, cardiac and medical-surgical nurses. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and the tertiary private hospitals recruit experienced specialty nurses and expect Western-standard competencies and strong English. The mid-size private hospitals and clinic groups across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain hire general ward and outpatient nurses at volume. Most of these employers fill international posts through recruitment partners and candidate databases rather than unsolicited applications; the hospitals hiring international nurses guide has the detail.

Common reasons DOH nursing files stall

1. Booking a Prometric exam instead of the DOH Pearson VUE exam, or waiting for a Prometric eligibility that never comes.
2. Diploma qualification submitted under Registered Nurse without the additional experience DOH expects.
3. Institution not on DOH's recognised list, triggering an equivalency review.
4. Good Standing Certificate expired during the long Dataflow window.
5. Experience letters not matching the CV to the month.

Looking for a hospital job in the Gulf? Register once in the GCC medical talent pool and our placement team matches your profile against live vacancies at partner hospitals in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait. Profiles are reviewed within 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions

Is the DOH nursing exam Prometric or Pearson VUE?

Pearson VUE. DOH is the one major UAE authority that does not use Prometric. You book from TAMM and sit at a Pearson VUE centre. The content is equivalent to the Prometric nursing papers.

Is HAAD the same as DOH?

Yes. The Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) was renamed the Department of Health Abu Dhabi. Older material and some employers still say HAAD.

Can I work in Dubai with a DOH licence?

No; Dubai requires DHA. Verified Dataflow data transfers between the two, and nurses with an active DOH licence and UAE experience often qualify for an exam waiver at DHA. See licence transfer between UAE authorities.

Does DOH accept GNM diploma nurses?

Case by case and less readily than MOHAP. Most GNM nurses find MOHAP or DHA a more predictable first licence, then transfer. See the GNM guide.

Do I need IELTS for a DOH nursing licence?

DOH does not mandate it for nurses educated in English, but most Abu Dhabi employers, and all the large government and tertiary groups, ask for IELTS 6.5 to 7.0 or OET B. See the English requirements guide.